5 min read

What is the tax point for a transaction including VAT?

The tax point (or ‘time of supply’) for a transaction is the date the transaction takes place for VAT purposes. There are different types of tax points and you’ll need to make sure you get the right transaction on the right VAT Return.

What is a tax point and why is it important?

The tax point, or ‘time of supply’, for a transaction is the date the transaction takes place for VAT purposes.

The tax point is important because it will tell you which VAT period a transaction belongs to and on which VAT return to include the transaction. The tax point must be shown on a VAT invoice.

Generally, you must pay or reclaim VAT in the VAT period in which the time of supply occurs (usually quarterly), and use the correct rate of VAT in force on that date. This means you’ll need to know the time of supply/tax point for every transaction so you can put it on the right VAT Return. You cannot delay accounting for VAT until you have received payment from a customer.

Tax doesn’t need to be taxing

To see this piece of interactive content, please visit our main site below.

Display Full Site

What is the date of supply?

Before we look at the tax point in more detail, we need to understand the date of supply.

For goods, the date of supply is the date the goods are sent by the supplier, collected by the customer or made available to the customer (for example a washing machine delivered to a hair salon).

For services, the date of supply is the date the work is complete (for example an accountant completing a set of accounts for a customer).

How do I know what the tax point is?

The tax point will vary depending on the circumstances.

Invoice?	Tax point
No invoice needed	If no invoice is needed, the tax point will be the date of supply.
VAT invoice issued (within 14 days)	If a VAT invoice has been issued within 14 days of the supply, the tax point will be the date of the invoice.
VAT invoice issued (after 14 days)	If a VAT invoice has been issued 15 days or more after the date of supply, the tax point will be the date of supply.
Payment received or VAT invoice issued in advance	If a payment is received or a VAT invoice is issued in advance of the supply being made, the tax point will be the earlier of either the date payment is received or the invoice date.
Payment received in advance	If a payment is received in advance of the supply being made and a VAT invoice has yet to be issued, the tax point will be the date the payment is received.
Cash accounting scheme	If you use the VAT cash accounting scheme, the tax point is always the date the payment is received.

Can there ever be more than one tax point?

One sale could give rise to two or more tax points.

For example, a customer may pay a deposit in advance and also make a final payment after the invoice has been received.

Assuming that the invoice is a VAT invoice and has been issued within the correct time period of 14 days after the date of supply, the tax points will be:

the date the payment was received, for the deposit in advance, and
the date of the invoice, for the final payment.

For example, Vicky is the owner of a hairdressers and has recently ordered a range of equipment to refurbish her salon.

Vicky paid a deposit of £300 on 2 April.

The equipment was delivered on 17 April and a VAT invoice for £2,400 (including VAT of £400) was issued by the supplier on 18 April.

Vicky paid the balance of £2,100 on 20 April.

The tax points will be :

the date the payment was received (2 April) for the deposit in advance (£300), this includes VAT of £50,
the date of the invoice (18 April) for the final payment of £2,100 (as this was invoiced within 14 days of the date of supply), this includes VAT of £350.

Quiz: Do you understand tax points?